Thursday September 4, 2014 8:26 am

5 Unique Gadgets to Trick Out Your Home Bar

There are few things in a home that say “sophisticated class” like a home bar when it’s done right. Rather than meeting at the local bar, invite some guests over to your place for drinks, and show them that there’s more to it then the simple choice of shaken or stirred. Each of these items is sure to impress at your next cocktail party.

Izola Measurements Cocktail Shaker
When upgrading your at-home cocktail setup from “dive bar” to “high-roller club,” remember that a well-prepared drink is what matters more than anything. We’ll get to the other cool stuff in a moment, but we had to start off with the Izola Measurements Cocktail Shaker. Izola’s vessel has a list of the most common drink measurements engraved into the steel, so your Vespers are sure to be Bond-worthy every time. $36 -

Professional Ice Ball Maker

If you must subject your cocktail to ice, at least do it the favor of using an ice ball instead of standard cubes. Why? First, it looks amazing. Additionally, one single large sphere cools more evenly than several ice cubes and has less surface area so it will melt slower, leaving you with an undiluted beverage. All you need is a Professional Ice Ball Maker. $150

Kartell Gastone

A small home doesn't mean you can't entertain. If your place is short on space, a serving trolley like Kartell's Gastone will suit you better than a full bar anyway, while keeping things classy. That's where the Kartell Gastone comes into play. Made of chrome-plated steel, polished aluminum, and easy-to-clean, high-desnity polyurethane, it rolls into any sipping space and folds into a closet when not in use. It's available in five colors: white, black, blue, plum, and cream. Once closed up, it has a depth of 9 inches, easily folding away. $1000

40-cm Japanese Barspoon with Muddler

If you wanna put together a proper Old Fashioned or Mojito, don’t just grab a fork and start mashing. That’s uncivilized. The Japanese Barspoon with Muddler does double-duty on your fruit and mint leaves: It has a spoon for stirring, and extra-tight coil, and a muddler at the other end for the pulverizing. $50

Whiskey Stones

If you like your liquor cold, toss a few of these Whiskey Stones into your glass to give your drink a chill without watering it down. Unlike real ice cubes, they're ready to use minutes after you pop them into the freezer. And don't worry: the soapstone they're made from is odorless, tasteless, and won't scratch your barware or your pearly whites.

There’s your start. Go forth and build your new, sophisticated home bar with a few of our recommended items. You'll be sure to rouse a feeling of style with your guests. Are there any bar gadgets that you think others should know about? Feel free to share them in the comments!